The term comparative literature has given rise to so much discussion, has been interpreted. Rene wellek august 22, 1903 november 11, 1995 was a czechamerican comparative literary critic. This study focuses on issues such as what comparative literature is or not, how it is perceived today, what its benefits are, what kinds of mistakes are made in theory and practice in comparisons. Like erich auerbach, wellek was an eminent product of the central european philological tradition and was known as a vastly erudite and fairminded critic of critics. Comparative literature historical linguistic literary scholarship these keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. Remembering rene wellek comparative critical studies. Theory of literature by rene wellek and austin warren preface. In the late 1950s it was rene wellek, claiming that comparative literature was in crisis since it lacked a distinct methodol ogy and object of study. Comparative literature study group of the department of chinese of beijing normal university, 28. Rene wellek, author of a history of modern criticism, 17501950, is sterling professor of comparative literature at yale. In chapter 2 of their classic theory of literature, rene wellek and austin warren discuss the concept of literature and conclude that it refers to imaginative literature. Rene wellek has 50 books on goodreads with 3341 ratings.
New revised edition by rene wellek and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Theory of literature is a book on literary scholarship by rene wellek, of the structuralist prague school, and austin warren, a selfdescribed old new critic. On comparative literature science publishing group. Major contributions of influence study and its weaknesses. Theory of literature, with austin warren 1949 and a history of modern. Before being called to yale in 1946 to establish what became a fullblown department of comparative literature, professor wellek spent seven years. The organisation of largescale triennial conference and other smaller workshop conferences. The journal invites contributions providing innovative perspectives on the theory and practice of the study of comparative literature in all its aspects, including but not restricted to.
Both main trends in the history of criticism, revived. According to henry remak, comparative literature is the study of literature beyond the confines of one particular country and the study of the relationships between on the one hand, and the other areas of knowledge and beliefs, such as the arts e. The british comparative literature association bcla was founded in 1975. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves. Rene wellek was born and raised in vienna, speaking czech and german. It draws on his characterization of the crisis of comparative literature presented at the 2nd congress of icla in the usa, and continues with the inter. In the first part it discusses the fears for the current study of literature as expressed by. Criticism as evaluation rene wellek sterling professor emeritus of comparative literature, yale university read april 26, 1975 in many contexts, for many years, i have called for a return to criticism in the original sense of judging, to criticism as evaluation. The concept of realism in literary scholarship springerlink. Clements, in comparative literature as academic discipline. Wellek s reputation as an important critic is based largely on the theories propounded in his two most significant works. A number of the essays are published for the first time and a bibliography of mr. Buy theory of literature by professor rene wellek online at alibris.
Consequently, the concern for values and qualities and a distant ideal of universal literary history and scholarship that rene wellek mentions in the context of the true criticism in his essay on the name and nature of comparative literature appears increasingly problematic. The modern language association of america, 1978, p. Nov 16, 1995 before being called to yale in 1946 to establish what became a fullblown department of comparative literature, professor wellek spent seven years teaching at the university of iowa, where he. Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the study of literature and cultural expression across linguistic, national, and disciplinary boundaries. In academic respect since 19th century comparative literature has been developed and theorized, the science of comparative literature has been transformed in one side into the theories of comparative literature and literary criticism, comparative literature as an umbrella term has focused on world literature in some curiosity of knowledge the. The name and nature of comparative literature part i. The most ordered, ranging and purposeful ward keeping the. A classic of criticism that examines the nature, function, form, and contents of literature. According to wellek, the work was written with the idea between warren and himself that we should rather combine our forces to produce a book which would formulate a theory of literature with an emphasis on the aesthetic fact which cannot be divorced from evaluation and hence from criticism. Buy a cheap copy of theory of literature book by rene wellek. The name and nature of comparative literature comparative literature today the term and concept of classicism in literary history the term and concept of symbolism in literary history immanuel kants aesthetics and criticism english literary historiography during the nineteenth century vernon lee, bernard berenson, and aesthetics. The term comparative literature has given rise to so much discussion, has been interpreted so differently and misinterpreted so frequently, that it might be useful to examine its history and to attempt to distinguish its meanings in the main languages.
He was a member of the group within the modern language association that worked to create an american journal in our field. The name and nature of comparative literature essay by. Theory of literature comparative literature association of. Concepts of criticism constitutes a valuable statement of mr.
Wellek name and nature of comparative literature poetry. It aims to promote the scholarly study of literature, the contexts of literature and the interaction between disciplines. The two met at the university of iowa in the late 1930s, and by 1940 had begun writing the book. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Literary theory and criticism festschrift presented to rene wellek in honor of his eightieth birthday by. Ren wellek s association with comparative literature began even before the appearance of its first issue. Is there an indian way of thinking about comparative literature. The most ordered, ranging and purposeful ward keeping the study of literature at once intelligent and liberal new york times. This essay considers shifts of approach in comparative literature, from early endeavours to trace direct influences of one author upon another to a more holistic model that sees the study of literature as the study of intertextual connections. A much overlooked mustread for anyone entering literary studies. Rene wellek, 92, a professor of comparative literature. Comparative literature as it was once conceived no longer exists. Pdf comparative literature and the question of theory. Theory of literature by professor rene wellek alibris.
Rene welleks most popular book is theory of literature. Theory of literature wellek, rene and austin warren on. Theory of literature rene wellek and austin warren harcourt, brace and company, 1948 ritika batabyal1 the 194446 collaboration between rene wellek and austin warren led to the publication of one of the most influential and comprehensive analysis in the field of literary theory, methodology and criticism. Through this long and detailed essay, wellek strives to give some definition to the umbrella term comparative literature by studying the root of the word, its historical context and the varied meanings it has been assigned over time. In the longstanding and divisive debate on comparative literature, comparatist scholars from both the great european tradition and the southern hemisphere agree on the importance of two elements. Comparative literature performs a role similar to that of the study of international relations, but works with languages and artistic traditions, so as to understand cultures from the inside. Rene wellek austin warren new haven, may 1, 1948 contents preface i. The name and nature of comparative literature part i rene wellek the term a free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. Books by rene wellek author of theory of literature.